Molten metal handling apparatus and method of preparing for pouring molten metal



Aug. 6, 1968 H. D. MINTEER. .m 3,395,331

MOLTEN METAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PREPARING FOR POURING MOLTEN METAL Filed March 24, 1967 ITJ. v

HENRY D. MINTEER JR. INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent i O 3,395,831 v MOLTEN METAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD F PREPARING FOR PGURING MOLTEN METAL Henry D. Minteer, Jr., Moon Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Vesuvius Crucible Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 625,860 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-1) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for bottom pouring molten metal from a receptacle comprising a nozzle adapted to be mounted in an opening through the bottom of the receptacle and a separate element adapted to be applied to the nozzle, when the receptacle is positioned ready for pouring, to constitute a downward extension of the nozzle confining the molten metal passing through the nozzle. The extension engages and is carried by the nozzle only with the lower portion of the nozzle and the upper portion of the extension disposed one within the other and preferably connected together by a threaded connection. Further, a method of preparing for pouring molten metal from a receptacle having an opening through its bottom with a nozzle mounted in the opening into a `molten metal receiver disposed below the nozzle comprising, with the receptacle and receiver disposed in their relative operative positions for pouring, applying to the nozzle a separate element constituting a downward extension of the nozzle confining the molten metal passing through the nozzle and extending down into the receiver. The extension is introduced down into the molten metal receiver and then raised and applied to the nozzle. The receptacle with the nozzle mounted therein and the extension are preferably separately dried and preheated before application of the extension.

ladle and delivered through the nozzle in the bottom of the ladle either to a series of ingot molds or to a tundish which in turn feeds through a nozzle in its bottom into a mold such as a continuous casting mold, or the molten steel may be tapped into a tundish without use of a bottom pour ladle. It is important to shield from the atmosphere the molten metal issuing through the nozzle in the bottom of the ladle or tundish. Heretofore elongated nozzles have been proposed which extend from the ladle or tundish (hereinafter generically called a receptacle) to a point below the surface of the molten metal in the tundish or mold (hereinafter generically called a receiver). In some cases the nozzles have been provided with separate eX- tensions or shrouds requiring complex and costly devices for attaching them to the bottom of the ladle or tundish.

A disadvantage of an elongated nozzle has been that it requires undesirable manipulation of the receptacle to position the receptacle in pouring relationship to the receiver since in pouring position the bottom of the nozzle is below the rim of the receiver.

I have solved the previously existing problems by providing a nozzle extension or shroud which when applied to the nozzle extends below the surface of the molten 3,395,831 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 "ice metal in the tundish or mold into which the molten metal is being teemed or poured yet which may be very easily and quickly applied to the nozzle itself, even when the ladle is in pouring position relatively to the tundish' or mold or when the tundish is in pouring position relatively to the continuous casting mold. Preferably the nozzle has a portion disposed below the bottom of the receptacle (ladle or tundish) to which it is applied and the extension is quickly attachable to such portion of the nozzle; however, the extension may be applied to a portion o f the nozzle which does not extend below the bottom of the receptacle. In either case means are provided for attaching the extension quickly and easily. Such means in a preferred form constitute screw threads although other quick attachment devices such as a bayonet slot connection may be used. Y

When the receptacle through whose bottom the molten metal is to be poured is in pouring position relatively to the receiver (tundish or mold) which is to receive the molten metal the extension may be introduced downwardly into the receiver and then raised and attached t0 the nozzle of the receptacle. This obviates any otherwise vunnecessary manipulation of the receptacle relatively to the receiver. Desirably the receptacle with the nozzle mounted therein and the nozzle extension are separately dried and preheated before application of the extension.

I provide apparatus for bottom pouring molten metal from a receptacle comprising a nozzle adapted to be mounted in an opening through the bottom of the receptacle and a separate element adapted to be applied to the nozzle, when the receptacle is positioned ready for pouring, to constitute a downward extension of the nozzle confining the molten metal passing through the nozzle.

The separate element constituting the downward extension of the nozzle engages and is carried by the nozzle only. This is in contradistinction to relatively complex and costly attaching devices heretofore proposed for attaching a nozzle extension or shroud to the bottom of a ladle.

The upper portion of the extension and the lower portion of the nozzle are disposed one within the other. They are connected together by means providing for a quick and easy connection such as screw threads. Normally the lower portion of the nozzle is disposed within the upper portion of the extension and connected thereto by a threaded connection.

I further provide apparatus for handling molten metal comprising a receptacle having an opening through its bottom with a nozzle mounted in the opening, a molten metal receiver disposed below the nozzle and a separate element adapted to be applied to the nozzle to constitute a downward extension of the nozzle confining the molten metal passing through the nozzle, such separate element when applied to the nozzle extending down into the molten metal receiver. As above indicated the separate element is preferably adapted to be screwed onto the nozzle although it may be screwed into the nozzle or otherwise applied, as, for example, by ya bayonet slot connection.

I further provide a method of preparing for pouring molten metal from a receptacle having an opening through its bottom with a nozzle mounted in the opening into a molten metal receiver disposed below the nozzle cornprising, with the receptacle and receiver disposed in their relative operative positions for pouring, applying to the nozzle a separate element constituting a downward extension of the nozzle confining the molten metal passing through the nozzle and extending down into the receiver. The receptacle with the nozzle mounted therein and the extension are preferably separately dried and preheated before application of the extension. The extension is preferably screwed onto the nozzle. Normally the extension is introduced `down into the molten metal receiver and then raised and applied to the nozzle. When applied the bottom of the extension of the nozzle extends to a point below the level of molten metal in the receiver.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof and a present preferred method of practicing the same proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the same in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-sectional view through a bottom pour ladle position for pouring molten metal into a tundish which in turn is positioned for delivering the molten metal into a mold such as a continuous casting mold; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the nozzle applied to the ladle or tundish and the separate element applied to the nozzle constituting a downward extension of the nozzle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, -FIG- URE 1 shows a conventional bottom pour ladle 2 and a conventional tundish 3 positioned to receive molten metal through the nozzle 4 at the bottom of the ladle 2. Outow from the ladle 2 through the nozzle 4 is controlled by a stopper 12 carried -by a steel stopper rod protected by sleeves 13 of refractory material as well lknown to those skilled in the art. The tundish 3 is also provided in its bottom with a nozzle 5 through which the molten metal received from the ladle 2 is delivered into a mold 6 which may be a continuous casting mold. Since the ladle and tundish may be conventional in structure they will not be further described. The nozzle applied to each of the ladle and tundish may be of the same construction as shown in FIGURE 2. That ligure shows a portion of the bottom of the ladle 2 with the nozzle 4 mounted in an opening 7 in the bottom of the ladle with a portion 8 of the nozzle extending lbelow the bottom of the ladle. The stopper and its rod and the protective sleeves are omitted in FIGURE 2. The nozzle 5 of the tundish may be 4identical with the nozzle 4 of the ladle and applied in the same manner. Further description of FIGURE 2 should be understood to be applicable not only to the nozzle 4 of the ladle but also to the nozzle 5 of the tundish. The term receptacle will be used as generic to the ladle and tundish. The term receiver will be used as generic to the vessel or device into which the molten metal is poured or delivered, this including the tundish 3 and the mold 6.

In the form shown the nozzle has the outer surface of its downward extension 8 screw-threaded as shown at 9 in FIGURE 2. Applied to the portion 8` of the nozzle is a separate element 10 constituting a downward extension or shroud of the nozzle and adapted to be of such length that when applied to the nozzle of a receptacle it extends below the surface of the molten metal in the receiver into which the molten metal is delivered. The extension 10 has its upper end internally screw-threaded as shown at 11 to mate with the screw threads 9 of the nozzle.

When the receptacle and receiver are disposed in their relative operative positions for pouring the extension 10 is introduced down into the receiver and then raised and screwed onto the nozzle. Thus no otherwise unnecessary manipulation of the receptacle or receiver is required to enable an elongated nozzle to clear the receiver rim. The receptacle with the nozzle mounted therein and the extension are preferably separately dried and preheated before application of the extension.

Thus II have in a simple and most expeditious manner solved the previously existing problems and provided for application of a nozzle extension or shroud in a quick and easy manner to a nozzle of a receptacle so as to extend below the level of the molten Imetal in the receiver after the receptacle and the receiver have been disposed in their relative operative positions for pouring.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of preparing for pouring molten metal from a receptacle having an opening through its bottom with a nozzle mounted in the opening into a molten metal receiver disposed below the nozzle comprising, with the receptacle and receiver disposed in their relative iixed operative positions for pouring, applying to the nozzle a separate element constituting a downward extension of the nozzle confining the molten metal passing through the nozzle and extending down into the receiver by introducing the separate element down into the molten metal receiver and then raising it and applying it to the nozzle.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the receptacle with the nozzle mounted therein and the separate element are separately dried and preheated before application of the separate element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 194,887 9/ 1877 Berg 222-510 1,306,376 `6/ 1919 Hall 222-510 2,245,753 `6/ 1941 Brown 222-566 2,564,427 l8/1951 De Rugeris 222-510 3,192,582 7/ 1965 Cope et al. 222-566 FOREIGN PATENTS 343,900 8/ 1904 France.

WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

